Cannabis edibles are simply beverages, foods or ingestible tinctures infused with weed. Currently in the market, edibles are referred to using a variety of names, some of which you have probably heard. They include names such as medibles, firecrackers, brown pot and space cakes amongst others.

Cannabis edibles are stronger, though it takes slightly longer for the effects to be realized as compared to those who inhale marijuana. However, this should not misguide you to think they are any milder. It is imperative for every user to consume the edible responsibly to avoid the detrimental effects of irresponsible consumption.

The history of cannabis edibles in the United States

Eating cannabis is not a phenomenon that started in this century. It is a practice which has been there for hundreds of years. For instance, the Chinese emperors used to brew tea using cannabis and Hindus drank bhang tea which was a concoction of ginger, warm milk, gunjah and garam masala.

But in the United States, the use of marijuana for recreation began around in 1910, following the influx of Mexicans who introduced the practice in the country. Before then, marijuana use was for medical purposes only.

The current era of marijuana edibles can, however, be traced back to 1954, when Alice B Toklas – was an elderly lesbian, published her infamous cookbook which had a recipe known as “Haschich Fudge”. The cookbook brought cooking with cannabis to the mainstream America and from then, various ideas and utilization of marijuana in foods were conceived. It is during this time that edibles like “pot brownies” became popular and we have never looked back since then.

Types of marijuana edibles

A variety of edibles are available in the market today, and they can be broadly classified into three main categories as follows:

Baked goods

Baked goods are intended for gastrointestinal absorption. They include all edibles where the marijuana will be ingested into the stomach and absorbed into the body through the stomach linings. Most of the edibles you will find in this category include cookies, brownies and snacks amongst others.

Drinks

Drinks are intended for oral uptake and they have the advantage of taking effects almost immediately, though they also tend to wear off very quickly. This category also includes the edibles which you hold in your mouth for a given amount of time. Such include tinctures, lozenges and suckers.

Oils, butter, liqueurs

The final category includes the oils, butter and liqueurs. This category is rather hybrid since the marijuana in the products can be absorbed either in the mouth or in the stomach.

The side effects of cannabis edibles are not so many, and they will typically appear when you take more than the recommended amounts. As usual, the side effects will pronounce themselves differently on each individual and once they are realized, it is imperative for the user to watch their uptake of the edibles. The most common side effects include-: cotton mouth, anxiety and hangovers.

To be on the safe side, it is recommended that you start with a smaller portion the edibles and wait for between 30 and 45 minutes to evaluate its effects on the body and also to let you know about the tolerance levels of your body. From there on, you can then adjust the quantities accordingly, but be sure not to take too much of it.

annabis leaf is the most prominent part of the cannabis plant. It is not only the best source of the potent properties for which the herb is hailed for, but also it harbors fascinating history and facts that will really change your perception about it.

And though many are the varieties of cannabis, there is very little alteration on how the leaves look like from one strain of cannabis to another. Here are some of the other facts you should know about cannabis leaves:

Cannabis leaves phyllotaxy

Cannabis leaves are not alternate as most of the other herbs in the same family, but rather, they are compound and decussate-opposite. The leaves emerge in pairs on either sides of the stem and they also have a characteristic vertical line in between the spaces. Though the leaves are decussate when they are young, they normally begin to form alternate patterns as the plant nears flowering stage.

Leaf difference between the three main strains

The three main cannabis strains are sativa, indica and ruderalis. From a broader perspective, the leaves may be seen to have no difference amongst them, but a close look will reveal subtle differences as follows:

Sativa leaves – the leaves are long and slender. They have very conspicuous serrations which make them look spiky and jagged. The color of the leaves is also distinct and normally ranges from blackish green at the darkest to lime green. A fully grown sativa leaf can contain up to 13 leaflets.

Indica leaves – these leaves are wider and larger compared to their sativa counterparts. A fully grown indica leaf may contain between seven and nine leaflets and the color is normally deep olive green. It is not common for you to find this strain with very light green leaves and if that happens, then it points to a deficiency.

Ruderalis leaves – these are the smallest among the strains and a fully grown leaf may have anywhere between five and thirteen leaflets. In terms of width, the almost equal indica, though at times they can be narrower than any indica leaf can be.

Mutated leaf patterns cannabis

Due to the incredible variation in cannabis morphology in different places around the world, different rather unusual leaf patterns have been noticed. Most of these variations are desirable by most people, especially the illegal growers, since they will not attract a lot of attention from the law enforcers. Some of the variations include:

Webbed cannabis leaves – this is a common mutation and quite a number of breeders have tried to stabilize it. Though their efforts haven’t brought forth good fruits, webbed varieties can now be found in the markets, albeit very few of them.

Whorled leaves – this is another mutation in the cannabis leaves, though it is a less desirable one it nearly looks like the common cannabis leaves.

Australian bastard cannabis – this is the most unique mutation and it was first recognized by breeders around Sydney, who went ahead to attempt to stabilize it, but with no commercial success. With this mutation, the leaves are succulent, with no hairs and each leaf will have utmost five leaflets.